Ambrotype of a woman standing beside a chair draped with clothing. (New South Wales?), c.1863.

Sixth plate ambrotype with applied colour, 70 x 60 mm (sight); in fine condition, in the original large oval brass mat, housed in the original leather case with simple geometric design (working brass clasp); inserted in the case is a lock of the sitter’s beautiful auburn hair contained in an envelope which is inscribed in a nineteenth-century hand ‘Given to me in the beginning 1863 by my O.D.N’, and signed with monogram ‘A.A. (?)’.

Provenance: Acquired by the previous owner from Archer’s Auctions, Katoomba, 24 April 1993, lot 470 (ex Estate of J. Morlock, Leura, New South Wales).

We are confident that this humble ambrotype was taken in a colonial studio, due to the informal (careless, almost) studio set-up, with its simple canvas backdrop, and the very plain leather case; quite possibly, the sitter is an ancestor of Leura resident J. Morlock.